Water-heater.



C. C. WEAVER.

' WATER HEATER.

APPLCATEOP; HLED 1:58.23. 19H.

2 SHFEISw--SHEET l.

C. C. WEAVER.

WATER HEATER. APPLfcM'f'N FILED FEB. 23. :su

LQ, Patented Nov. 26, 1918 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHRISTOTHER C. WEAVER, 0F CLEVELAND. OFT

WATER-HEATER.

Lessons.

speeiaeauon of Letters Patent;

Application area February es, 1917. serial no. 150,605.

tain new and useful .mprovements in Water-Heaters, of which thefollowing isa specification.

The present invention relates to anto` matic Water heaters for domesticuse rincipally and of the type commonly esignoted as instantaneous. Oneof the objects of the invention is the provision of an a i paratus forthe purpose set forth, that 1s simple and economical in construction,providing the maximum of etliciency and minimum of cost for installationand upkeep. In the common practice for supplying hot Water for domesticuse, a tank or reservoir is employed and a pipe from the main Waterysupply passes through the tire box ofl V'a furnace to said reservoir.Auxiliary gas heaters are` also generally used for heatlng the Water 1nthe reservoir independent of the furnace, so that hot water may beprovided when the furnace is for any reason out of commission. Thereservoirs land -anxiliary heaters are troublesome, inconj'venient, andmorel or less expensive to inf stall and keep in repair; therefore afurther "object of the present invention 1s the provision of a waterheater that meets all the requirements without the employment of areservoir in connection therewith. A further object is the provision ofapparatus for the purpose set forth, that is automatically o erative,the .fuel supply for the ur- Vpose o heating the water bein contro ledby thev pressure of the Water, t e 'construen tion and arrangement ofparts being such that when water outlets are closed` the hea-ting mediumis .out out, but immediately put intonation upon the opening of awater'outlet, thereby resulting in economy of fuel.l Still a furtherobject'of the invention is the provision of precautionary means Wherebthe `fuel supply is automatically cut ed when the mam Water supply isclosed, theren by eliminatingthepossibility of damage to the apparatusby burning dry tubes-if the actuating means, or opening of `outlets i'sinadvertently resorted to. With the above mentioned and 4ot'er apparentobjects in view, .the invention consists inthe construction,arrangement, and coperative combilnation of.l the elements as shown inthe "Water and gas drawings, described in the following speci; iicationand pointed out definitely in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification,Figure l is a view in elevation of an embodiment of' the improved heaterand connections, showing one door removed and a small portion of thecasing broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view of the assembled parts that are inclosed within thecasing, the casing being removed, andthe upper and lower headers beingin central cross-section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the uppery header.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view o'f the lower header, showing the burners andtheir connecting members.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the coils used, showing its connectionwith manifolds.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one form of a double control valve employed,and Fig. 'l'.

isa section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Patented Nov. 26. 1918.

principally for domestic use andA for quickly heating water for any andall` purposes desired. lt occupies but a small volume of space and maybe located in any convenient apartment, preferably in the basement whichis the usual location for apparatus of this character, and is connectedwith the pipes by the members W and G respectively.

lfn the embodiment of the invention as illustrated, the body of theapparatus, or

heater 4proper is'supported by anbrdinary standard 1 which is common andtherefore not an element 0f the invention. Two headers are provided, andfor convenience of eX- planation they will-be designated as upper header2 and lower header 3. The headers 2 and 3 are spaced the desireddistance apart and are connected hy manifold members-4 'and 5. The upperheader 2 consists of a to Fig. 2 it will be seen that `the manifold hasan open connection 'with the chamber t3, passes through the header 3, isconnect ed with the pipe member 30 and closed by the cap 30, While themanifold el passes through the header 3 but has a closed or deadconnection with the header 2. A series of tubular coils 9 are interposedbetween, and connected with the manifolds 4 and 5 and surround a fluemember 1() which depends from a central oigieninpr 2d in the header 2.

A Water inlet pipe line 11, 1la connects the Water supply W7 with thechamber 6 at G, and is provided with branches 12, 12Z1 and 13, 13a, aWater feed regulating;` cock 14 being interposed between said branchconnections. The branches 12a and 13a lead to the control members 15 andringto Figs. 6 and 7, the construetion and operation of the controlmembers Will be understood. It will be seen that the members 15 and 16are of 'similar construction and for convenience are embodied in thesame housing. Each member comprises a Water pressure controlled valve,but the function of valve member 15 is the reverse of that in member 1G,as Will now be explained. In member 15 the valve l5n attached to thestem 15') is held open by the Water pressure on the head 15c through thebranch 12a, and when pressure is relieved from the head 15C the valve isclosed by the .spring 15d. In member 1G the valve 1G"L attached to stem1Gb is held closed by the Water pressure on the head 16 through thebranch 13a and when pressure is relieved from the head 1C the valve isopened by the spring 16d. The valve chainbers 15e and 16e are connectedby a port ltr.

pipe 17 connects the valve chamber 15 With the gas supply G, and a: pipe18 connects the valve chamber 16(l with the fuel chamber 8 in the lowerheader 3, suitable burners 19 also being connected with the chamber 8below the coils 9.

The outlet or servire line 20 is connected with the manifold -l as shownat 3a. By following the connections as above described it will be seenthat Water from the inlet 11 passes through the chambe (i into manifold5, through the coils 9, manifold et to the servicevline 20. `Waterbeine' turned on at the main, there is a cons V-ant pressure on the head15C through lll. 11, and the branch 12, 12, this holds the valve 15nopen, allowing the gas to enter chamber 15e, and through port 16 tochamber 1G". The water pressure on head 1Gc closes the valve 16 and cutsoff the gas from the burners 19. A branch 21 connects the fuel pipe 17with a pilot lnirner 22. Ordinary shut oft cocks and are provided in theconnections 1i" 21 respectively, and when the apparatus is in operativecondition these cocks are open, thereby providing a constant supply offuel to the valve chamber 15e andthe pilot 22.

1G respectively. By referand.

lessees The branch 13 is preferablj,Y of smaller boraV than the inletpipe 11, and when the servire line 20 is opened at any point, as forexample through the faucet 25, the pressure is relieved on the head 1G"and the valve 1G is opened by the spring` 16d, thereby admitt-ingl thefuel to the burners 19 Where it is ignited by the pilot Haine, resultingin rapid heating of the Water passing` through the coils i), theconnecting' manifolds, and the service line 20.

Vhe manifolds, coils, burners, and upper header are inclosed Within acasing 26, pro vided with doors 2G thereby increasing the heat value byConfinement.'

rl'he arrangement and eoperation of the parts is such that the opening`of the outlet 25 results in almost instantaneous` fioiv of hot watertherefrom, and immediately upon the closing of the outlet the pressurethrough 13, 13" closes the valve 16, thereby cutting olf the fuel supplyto the burners 1S?, but not interfering with the pilot.

The control member 15 provides a precautionary or safety element. watersupply is cut off at the main, or in the line Vf, the pressure on thehead 15C is relieved and the valve 15 closes, thereby renderingl theburners 19 inoperative. It Will readily be seen that the principalobject of the invention may be accomplished, and the operation ofautonnitically control ling the fuel supply to the burners is the sameif the safety element 15 is eliminated and the connection 17 madedirectly the .chamber 160.

It will be noted that the improved apparatus provides for a great savingof fuel, as the major fuel consumers, or burners 19 are only active whenhot Water is desired and an outlet or outlets in service line areopened.

An im )ortant feature of the invention is the simplicity of constructionthat facilitates repairs. 1f one of the coils 9 becomes danniged it can.be quickly and easily re moved, the manifold connection for the damagedcoil plugged, and the apparatus is therefore only out of commission fora coinparativelv short time. The apparatus can be installed and kept inreliable operative condition by any person of ordinary intellect, anddoes not require the services of. an expert in the heating` andplumbing,l line.

lVhile a preferred construction of control members is shown in Figs. l,6, and i", these members may be made in a variety of designs andoperateunder the saine principle and provide the same result, andtlierefore `be Within the scope of the inventionn Figs. 8 and 9 areillustrations of a modied form of double control member wherein the"water pressure from 12a acting on the diaphragm 50c holds the gas valve50"L open against the force of the spring 50d, and the pressure in easethe i with i lilo from 13I=` on the diaphragm 60c holdsthe valve 60a'onits seat, thereby shutting of the gas from pipe member 18. Thisconstruction is the equivalent of that shown in Figs.

1, 6, and 7 the functions of the'parts being the same, the chambers 50eand 60e connected by the port 601 being the equivalent ofthe chambers15", 16e and connecting port 161' respectively.

The apparatus can be etliciently operated as a hot Water circulating orreturn system by connecting the return pipe with the member 30, shown inFigs. l .and 2 as closed by the cap 30. Y i

-lVhile apractical embodiment of the 1nvention is herein shown anddescribed, it will ybe understood that 'I am not confined to thisspecific construction, as Ythere may be various modifications of detailsin construction and arrangement of parts without departing from thenature ofthe invention, the limitations ybeing;r governed by the scopeofthe claims and the existing state of the"l art.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. In a Water heater, the combination of a header member provided with aWater chamber; a header member provided with a fuel chamber; manifoldmembers forming spacers and supports for said headers, one onlyof saidmanifold members opening into the Water chamber; a series of tubularcoils arranged between the headers and connected with said manifolds;fuel burners connected with the fuel chamber below the coils; a

nected with said chamber; a manifold member having open connection Withsaid chamber; a manifold having a closed connection with said header; aseries of separate heating coils interposed between and connected withsaid manifolds; a header provided with a fuel chamber, located below thecoils, Said header being supported bythe manifolds; a fuel supply memberconnected with said fuel chamber; burners connected with saidfuel-chamber; and a Water outlet connection with one of the manifolds.

3. In a Water heater a header provided with a Water chamber; a Water suply con,- nected with said chamber; a mani old member having openconnection With said charnber; a manifold having a closed connectionWith said header; a series of separate heating coils interposed betweenand connected With said manifolds; a header provided with a'fuel chamberlocated below the coils, said header being supported by themanifolds; aflue member extending through the coils; burners connected With saidlfuel chamber; a casing surrounding the headers, manifolds, coils, andburners for confining the heat; a fuel Supply member connected with thefuel chamber; and a Water outlet connected With oneof the manifolds.

CHRISTOPHER C.' WEAVER.

